Denmark to introduce virtual tourism to Faroe Islands

Published on : Monday, May 18, 2020

Denmark has decided to invite travelers to visit the country through its “remote tourism” program. The country has planned to launch a virtual tourism initiative in light of the international travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The program will allow people to virtually tour the country’s Faroe Islands territory.

The Faroe Islands is a set of 18 rocky islands between Iceland and Norway and serves as one of the popular tourist destinations across the country. Visitors can have a video game-like experience while using the virtual travel initiative. Authorities have also announced the organized tour times and informed that each tour is scheduled to last for an hour.

The remote tourists would be able to control their virtual tour guides by simply clicking on arrows that direct guides to go left, right, forward, or backward. The virtual guides can also be instructed to run or jump. These guides are capable of sailing in waters, riding horses and flying in helicopters. Each tour can be accessed by multiple people and each person in attendance can control the guide in one-minute intervals. All of the facilities can be accessed right from the comfort of the visitor’s own home and completely devoid of any charges.

Gudrid Hojgaard, Director, Visit Faroe Islands said in a statement that the lack of tourists on the Faroe Islands has provided the authorities with a lot of extra time on their hands. He mentioned that the virtual travel program would provide people who could not visit the island as planned as well as every traveler across the globe a chance to visit the Faroe Islands.

The remote tourism activity can be undertaken with the help of a mobile, tablet, or PC. Tourists can explore the rugged mountains of the island, see a close-up of its cascading waterfalls and spot the traditional grass-roofed houses. Visitors can also interact live with a local Faroese through the virtual medium who will act as their eyes and body on the virtual exploratory tour. However, guides are equipped with live video cameras and tourists should only instruct their virtual guides to visit areas that the safe for the guides.